Railroad quiet zone promises sounds of silence on Aug. 1

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, July 11, 2006

After two years of work, train horns will finally be silenced along a stretch of Union Pacific Railroad track from Memorial Park to Meyer Park starting Aug.1.

Houston Mayor Bill White, Council members Pam Holm and Anne Clutterbuck and officials from Bellaire and West University Place planned a news conference Tuesday morning after press deadline near the San Felipe Road crossing to announce the notice of establishment of the federally approved railroad quiet zone.

According to federal regulations, the zone will take effect 21 days later.

“It’s been a long, sometimes arduous project, but I think it’s going to add to the quality of life for residents all along the tracks,” said Bellaire Mayor Cindy Siegel. “It’s not just eliminating the horns that’s so welcome, but we’re getting much safer railroad crossings in the process.”

Houston, Bellaire and West University Place entered into an interlocal agreement to install approved warning signs and safety devices at 13 crossings through largely residential areas of Memorial Park, Royden Oaks, Afton Oaks, Bellaire, West University, Meyerland, Meyer Park and Willowbend.

Residents had increasingly complained that heavier train traffic — up to 35 trains daily during all hours — and federal regulations requiring trains to sound their horns for longer distances had made living near the tracks unbearable.

“This has been a serious issue to constituents, and we’re pleased that it’s reached this conclusion,” said Sarah Goldston, an aide to Holm. With Bellaire and West University each contributing about $67,000, Houston took the lead in engineering and installing appropriate devices at each crossing, according to federal guidelines.

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“I have to commend the city of Houston for its leadership,” said Siegel. “West U and Bellaire couldn’t have done this on our own.”